Autoloaded options

Autoloaded options shows which options WordPress loads on every page, how big they are and who probably owns them. You can stop autoloading heavy ones, or delete options that removed plugins left behind. Shows in: Autoloaded options tab

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Turn it on

1. Go to WooCommerce → Powerups and switch on Autoloaded options in the Performance group.
2. Click Configure, then the Autoloaded options tab.

There’s nothing to set up. The Settings tab says “Nothing to set up. Use the Autoloaded options tab.”

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The summary

• Loaded on every page: the total size, compared with the limit WordPress Site Health recommends.
• Autoloaded options: how many there are.
• Large options: options over the size WordPress would autoload on its own (150 KB by default).

On multisite, only this site’s options are included; network options aren’t.

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The list

The 100 largest autoloaded options, with Option, Size, Probable owner and Autoload. Search by name, or filter by owner: WordPress, WooCommerce, Plugins, Themes, Inactive or removed, Unknown owner.

• Large marks big options. Forced by its plugin means the plugin always asks for it to autoload.
• The owner is a guess from the option name (WordPress’s own list, WooCommerce, installed plugins and themes, well-known plugins). It says Unknown when unsure.

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View a value

The eye icon shows the raw value as stored. It’s never run or unpacked. Long values show the first 4 KB. Copy name copies the option name. The viewer opens only options that are autoloaded, or that you switched off here. Values with sensitive names, or content that looks like a secret (API keys, tokens, private keys), are hidden. Reveal value and Download value (up to 1 MB) need Advanced permission: site admins, or on multisite a network (super) admin. Admins below the Advanced level, such as site admins on multisite, can’t reveal anything, so they get a stricter mask. It also hides values under more names, long random-looking strings such as hashes and license keys, and logins written inside URLs.

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Stop autoloading

Stop autoloading (Review recommended, click twice) keeps the option, and WordPress then loads it only when something asks for it. If WordPress, WooCommerce or an active plugin reads the option on every page, this adds a database query to each page. The button warns you: “Click again: may add a query per page”. To undo it, click Autoload again (Review recommended) under Recent changes.

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Delete an option

Delete is Advanced: type “delete” to confirm. The option is deleted for good; download the value first if you might need it. You can only delete options that belong to an inactive plugin or theme, or to a plugin you removed (exact known option names only). These are never deleted:

• WordPress and WooCommerce options
• Jetpack connection options (used by WooCommerce and WooPayments)
• Action Scheduler and Admin Powerups options
• Transients. Clear those with WooCommerce → Status → Tools.

Only autoloaded options, or ones you switched off here, can be changed.

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Recent changes

Every option you stop autoloading, switch back or delete is listed with its size, owner, who did it and when. Values are never stored.

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Performance

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On phones

On a phone, each option stacks into a block instead of scrolling sideways.

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Data

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Known limitations

• With a persistent object cache, changes made outside WordPress show only after that cache expires. Changes made here show straight away.
• If two admins change options at the same moment, one history entry can be lost. The change itself is saved.